Until November the council will be carrying out the annual canvass of electors, which is an audit of the local Register of Electors to ensure all eligible persons are included and their name and address is accurately recorded. Canvass forms will be sent to all households in the borough, which will include information telling people how to register their details. For households where details remain unchanged the Electoral Reform Services has developed a freephone and internet registration system which should make confirming details easier than ever. Residents should re-register by dialling the freephone number and keying-in the special security code printed on the canvass form. The caller is then prompted to confirm the household details and the call is complete. The service is a fully automated touch-tone system that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the canvass period. In addition details can also be confirmed using the internet registration system that allows people to visit a secure website and register their ‘no-change’ details online. Returning officer Barry Catchpole said: “The freephone telephone number and internet registration system makes it easy for residents to update their information with the council. “The system also accommodates the opt-out rules, which were introduced in 2002 to allow users to add or remove their names from the edited version of the register that we are all required to sell to mailing companies. “The system means registration updates are immediate and more accurate and it reduces the cost of the canvass for the council. The council hopes this will encourage greater involvement in the democratic process so more people will register and vote in local elections next year.” Electoral services manager Nicola Vooght said: “The information we ask for on the canvass form is required by law and failure to respond could result in prosecution. Using the freephone number or internet is a quick, easy way to confirm details and is entirely secure. The council has used the freephone registration system for the past two years and last year 34% of voters chose to confirm their details in this way. “The council hopes the internet system will be just as successful.”